Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group touches base with Fijian government

The first ever bilateral talk between Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop since December 2006 was held Friday. The talk came as the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) on Fiji visited Suva from Friday to Saturday. During its visit, the group is expected to meet with representatives of the Fijian government, the country's political parties and a range of other stakeholders. Fiji has been suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum since May 2009 after the 2006 coup. The group is mandated by Pacific Islands Forum leaders to continue dialogue and engage with Fiji, including supporting Fiji' s return to parliamentary democracy. It comprises Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Murray McCully and other officials from Pacific Island Forum countries. Bishop made it clear before the meeting that it is time to embrace Fiji. She said during a Pacific Beat interview this week that she would not impose any conditions on the Fijian government when discussions with Bainimarama take place. Fijian academics believe that the thawing of relations between Fiji and Australia was a good sign as the country heads to the general election later this year. The improving of relations would mean more much-needed aid for the general election, Dr Sandra Tarte, associate professor in the School of Government, Development and International Affairs at the University of the South Pacific, said in an interview with the Fiji Sun newspaper last week. Tarte said Fiji would need all the support it could get to prepare for credible elections. With about seven months to go before the general election, she said, monetary and technical assistance was welcomed by the Fijian government. Australia and New Zealand have been pushing for quick elections in Fiji and it was clearly a priority for the government to ensure the elections proceeded smoothly, she said. After the 2006 military coup, Australia slammed sanctions against Fiji, prohibiting the country's military personnel and senior government members from traveling to or transiting Australia. The supply, sale or transfer to Fiji of arms and related materials were also put on hold. Recently, Australia has begun to be more flexible with its travel sanctions and has approved some Fijian government officials ' visas. This was highlighted last week at the Australia Day celebrations by the acting Australian head of mission Glenn Miles, whose invitation to Bainimarama and some other senior Fijian government officials to be part of the celebrations signaled a significant step by Australia in their move towards restoring relations between the two countries, analysts said. The Fijian government has pledged to hold a general election by the end of September.